Quantum imaging device capable of operating with single-pixel detectors

Abstract

Provided is a quantum imaging device. The device includes a first light source configured to generate first light, a first photon pair generation part configured to generate a first entangled photon pair using the first light, a first beam splitter configured to separate the first entangled photon pair into a first signal idler and a first signal line, a first detector configured to receive the first signal idler, a first mirror configured to provide the first signal line to a target, a second detector configured to receive the first signal line transmitted or reflected to the target, and a signal processor connected to the first and second detectors and configured to obtain a target image by comparing a measurement image with a reference image.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A quantum imaging device comprising:
 first and second light sources configured to generate first and second light;   a first photon pair generation part configured to generate a first entangled photon pair using the first light;   a second photo pair generation part configured to generate a second entangled photon pair having a wider wavelength band width than a wavelength band width of the first entangled photon pair using the second light;   a first beam splitter configured to separate the first and second entangled photon pairs into first and second signal idlers, and a first and second signal lines;   a first detector configured to receive the first and second signal idlers and generate a reference image;   a first mirror configured to provide the first and second signal lines to a target;   a second detector configured to receive the first and second signal lines transmitted or reflected to the target and generate a measurement image; and   a signal processor connected to the first and second detectors and configured to obtain a target image by comparing the measurement image with the reference image,   wherein the first photon pair generation part has a first thickness, and   wherein the second photon pair generation part has a second thickness greater than the first thickness to broaden the wavelength band width of the second entangled photon beyond the wavelength band width of the first entangled photon pair.   
     
     
         2 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the first photon pair generation part includes a nonlinear crystal plate. 
     
     
         3 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first optical fiber between the first beam splitter and the first detector; and   a second optical fiber between the first beam splitter and the first mirror.   
     
     
         4 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second beam splitter between the first mirror and the second detector. 
     
     
         5 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pinhole lens between the first beam splitter and the first detector. 
     
     
         6 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the second photon pair generation part includes:
 a first nonlinear crystal plate; and   a second nonlinear crystal plate in contact with the first nonlinear crystal plate.   
     
     
         7 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third light source configured to generate third light; and   a third photon pair generation part configured to generate a third entangled photon pair using the third light, the third photon pair generation part being thicker than the second photon pair generation part.   
     
     
         8 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 7 , wherein the third photon pair generation part includes:
 a third nonlinear crystal plate;   a fourth nonlinear crystal plate spaced apart from the third nonlinear crystal plate; and   a birefringent material plate between the third and fourth nonlinear crystal plates.   
     
     
         9 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 7 , further comprising a dichroic mirror provided between the first beam splitter and the second and third photon pair generation parts, the dichroic mirror reflecting the second entangled photon pair to the first beam splitter and transmitting the third entangled photon pair. 
     
     
         10 . A quantum imaging device comprising:
 first and second light sources configured to generate first and second light;   a first photon pair generation part configured to generate a first entangled photon pair using the first light;   a second photo pair generation part thicker than the first photon pair generation part and configured to generate a second entangled photon pair having a wider band than a band of the first entangled photon pair using the second light;   a first beam splitter configured to separate the first and second entangled photon pairs into first and second signal idlers and first and second signal lines;   a first detector configured to receive the first and second signal idlers and generate a reference image;   a first mirror configured to provide the first and second signal lines to a target;   a second detector configured to receive the first and second signal lines transmitted or reflected to the target and generate a measurement image; and   a signal processor connected to the first and second detectors and configured to obtain a target image by comparing the measurement image with the reference image,   wherein the first photon pair generation part has a first thickness, and   wherein the second photon pair generation part has a second thickness greater than the first thickness to broaden the band of the second entangled photon beyond the band of the first entangled photon pair.   
     
     
         11 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 10 , wherein the first photon pair generation part includes a nonlinear crystal plate. 
     
     
         12 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 10 , wherein the second photon pair generation part includes:
 a first nonlinear crystal plate having a same thickness as the first thickness; and   a second nonlinear crystal plate in contact with the first nonlinear crystal plate and having a same thickness as the thickness of the first nonlinear crystal plate.   
     
     
         13 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a third light source configured to generate third light; and   a third photon pair generation part configured to generate a third entangled photon pair having a wider band than the band of the second entangled photo pair using the third light.   
     
     
         14 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 13 , wherein the third photon pair generation part includes:
 a third nonlinear crystal plate having a same thickness as the first thickness;   a fourth nonlinear crystal plate arranged spaced apart from the third nonlinear crystal plate and having a same thickness as the thickness of the third nonlinear crystal plate; and   a birefringent material plate provided between the third and fourth nonlinear crystal plates.   
     
     
         15 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 13 , further comprising a total reflection mirror provided between the third photon pair generation part and the first beam splitter. 
     
     
         16 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 15 , further comprising a dichroic mirror, which is provided between the total reflection mirror and the first beam splitter, reflects the second entangled photon pair to the first beam splitter, and transmits the third entangled photon pair to the first beam splitter. 
     
     
         17 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second detectors each have a single pixel. 
     
     
         18 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 10 , further comprising a filter provided between the first photon pair generation part and the first beam splitter. 
     
     
         19 . The quantum imaging device of  claim 10 , wherein the first beam splitter includes a polarization beam splitter.